Insulator for trolley-wire supports



J. W. MEAKER. INSULATOR FOR TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORTS. 10.547,931.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES APA'rnNT OFFICE.-

f JOHN Aw. MEAKER, or- EvANsToN, ILLINOIS.

l INSU LAToR Fon .TROLLEY-WIRE su PPoRrs."

SPECIFICATION-forming' part of Letters latent No. 547,931, dated October 15, 1895.

` .-Application filed November- 19, 1894. Serial No. 529,331! n model.)

Be it known that-I, JOHNW. MEAKER, a citirenV of the United States, residing at Evanston-, i'n the county of @ookQ and State of Illiis a longitudinal vertical section.

nois, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Insulators for Trolley-Wire Supports, of which the following vis a specilicatio'n, reference being had to the-accompa- Dying drawings, in 'whichlFigure 1 is a vertical cross-section.

l planview.. Fig. 4 is an under side view of the screw-cap. '.Fig. 5 is a detail, bei-ng a side elevation of. theshell. Fig. 6 is a detail, being My invention relates to' devices-for. suspending trolley-wires usedin overhead electricrailwaysystems, and has to do-particulrl'y Iwith devices for, insulating the trolley-wire supports.

As is well known, in overhead electric-railway systems it is customaryto secure the trolley-wire in place-by attaching it to a suitable -a bolt, towhich the trolley-wire hanger wasconnected, and devices for supporting said bolt and protecting it from moisture. In order to more perfectly insulate the wire the bolts used heretofore have generally been cov- The devices heretofore used have, however, been unsatisfactory for v arious reasons, among which may bementioned the great expense andthe difficul'ty which attended the adjustment of the insulator upon its supporting-wire, the li tter objection being particularly important owing to the fact that it was frequently necessary to adjust the position of the insulator.

The objects ofmy present invention are to avoid the objections incident to insulatorsas 5o heretofore constructed and to provide an improved insulator which may readily be ad- 4justed which will be so constructed that4 it rig.2 Fig. 3 is av a plan view of the inner cap. Fi g. 7 is an elc-` vation showing a' different method of attaching the bolt to the trolley-wire' support.

may be readily applied to or removed from the wire, which will form a perfect protection aga-inst moisture and which will' be durablel and cheap to manufacture..

A lfurther object is to provide an improved bolt for use -in insulators.

I accomplish the objects of my invention as hereinafter specified and as illustrated in the drawings.

in the claims.

4In the-drawings, 8A indicates a bolt', which,

asshowu in the drawings, is conical. in form,-

Thatavhich Iregard as'new'iwil'l be set forth its lower end being 'arranged to be attached to a trolley-wire hanger 9. 1 prefer `vto make i the lower end of the bolt 8 screw-threaded, so Y that it may be screwed 'to the hanger 9;. but 'it may be slotted to receive a tongue carried by the hanger,' as 'shown infFig. 7, or may be lattached to the-hangerin any othersuitable manner.

The bolt- 8 may be of iron or other suitable material, and is coated with a suitable .non-

conducting enamel, such as .th'atjcommonly used in the manufacture of enameled iron- 175 conductor, preferably a glass or other nonvware. This makesthe bolt a perfect non-conl 10 indicates Va shell, the-upper portion of y which has a considerably greater diameter than the upper portion of the bolt 8, as shown in "Fig, 1. Near its lower end the shell 10 is provided with a contracted'portion 11, forming a circumferential shoulder 12, as'shown. 13 indicates a series of perforations in said shoulder 12. The inner wall of the contracted .portion 1l of the shell is inclined, making it substantially conicalin form, as also shown in Fig. 1.

15 indicates a bell having at its upper portion a conical sleeve 14, which fits into the sie` contracted portion 11 of the shell,.and is so.

arranged as tov project a short distance above the shoulder l2 when fitted intothe shell, as

shown in Figs. land .2. By thisconstruction a gutter is formed in the-shell 1,0 above the contracted portion 11, so that any moisture collecting'in the shell is confined to said channel and escapes through the orifices 13.

The upper portion of saidbell bears against the lower edge of the shell l0, and said shell and bell are firmly secured together by the IDG sleeve 14,- its conical 'form preventing. its Withdrawal from the shell, as shown in Fig. l. Before the parts are assembled the sleeve. 14 is substantially cylindrical; but it is flared after it is fitted into the contractedportion of said shell and thereby caused tolit snugly in said shell. This may be done byadie or other suitable mechanism. The conical form ofthe sleeve 14 adapts it to receive the bolt 8, the relative sizes of the bolt and sleeve being such that when the bolt is tted into said sleeve the upper.y end thereof will be slightly above the upper edge of said sleeve.

In Fig. 2 I have showna modified arrangement ofthe sleeve 14'a1id bell 15, the shell being unchanged. In .this form a separate sleeve 14 is used, which is conical in form to adapt it to it intothe contracted portion 'ot' the shell. Said sleeve is secured to the bell and the three parts thereby secured together by iiaring the lower edge of the shell within the bell, as shown in Fig. 2. l

16 indicates an inner cap having a circumferential flange 17, said cap being adapted to fit over the upper edgev ofY the sleeve 14, as shown, the cap resting upon the upper end of the bolt 8. A'lhe exterior diameter of the cap 16 is, however, slightly less than the interior diameter of the upper portion of the shell 10, so as to permit the moisture to escape downward. A

18 indicates a plate, which is secured upon the upper side of the cap 16. The plate 18 is provided with a longitudinal recess 19, adapted to receivea wire 20. The ends ofthepplate 18 are adapted to project through slots 2l in opposite portions of tho shell 10, as best shown in Fig. 2,said slots being preferably narrower than the plate 18, which is provided with suitable notches 22 to receive the edges of the shell. By causing the ends ot' the plate 18 to project through the slots 21 the cap 16 is prevented from turning when the insulator is applied to the wire, as will be hereinafter described.

23 indicates anonter cap, which isinternally screw-threaded and is adapted to screw upon the upper end of the shell 10, which is also screw-threaded, as shown in the drawings. The cap 23is provided with an inwardly-projecting .portion 24 at the center, which is preferably square, forming asquare depression in the 4cap to adapt it to receivea suitable tool, so that the cap may be forcibly screwed upon or unscrewed from the shell 10. Instead, however, of making the hole square, it may be made of any other'non-eircular form.

25 indicates a plate similar to the palte 18,v

edge, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The insulator is adjusted in the following manner: The bolt -8 being fitted into the shell, the cap 16 is placed upon it, the plate ,18 projecting through the slots 2l. The wire 20, from which the device is suspended, is then placed in the recess in the plate 1S, and the cap 23 isplaced over it, the plate 25 lying over the wire. downward the insulator may be\ tightly clamped to the wire. It is evident that for adjusting the position of the insulator upon the wire'it is only necessary to slightly unscrew the cap 23, when the device may be adjusted as desired. By making the cap in the form described, practically all moisture is kept out of the shell; yetshould any gain access to it it is permitted to escape through the openings 13. Furthermore, when the' insulator is clamped upon the wire the pressure upon the upper end of the bolt 8 serves to wedge it tightly -into place, and thereby prevents it from becoming loose.

In order to prevent the cap 23 from accidentally unscrewing or working loose, it'is provided with a series of lugs or teeth 29, whichproject at right angles fromv its lower Vhen the cap has been screwed into place, those of such lugs which lie adjacent to the opposite ends of the plate 25 are bent downward over against the edges ot' said plate, as best 'shown in Figs. 3 and 7. In this way'the unscrewing of the cap 23 isprevented.

The bell- 15 serves to conduct away water which drips upon the insulator, and in order to avoid possible leakage of the current through the formation otl icicles said bell-is also coated with non-conducting enamel.

By then screwing the cap 23' 'Ifhis not only makes it a non-conductor, but 11,75

also presents a smooth surface to the moist- .ure and prevents it from accumulating on the bell, which is objectionable.

The great extent of the bearing-surface secured by making the bolt wedge-shaped prevents it from turning in its socket when it is secured therein, which is an important advantage, as it greatly facilitates the proper adjustment of the hanger.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a shell having a contracted lower portion, of a sleeve engaging 'the contracted portion of the shell, and having its upper end rising above said contracted portion, and a bell suspended by the sleeve, substantially as described.

2. In an iusulatorthe combination with a shell having a contracted lower portion, of a sleeve engaging the contracted portion of the shell, and having its upper end rising above said contracted portion, a bell suspended by the sleeve, and a bolt also suspended by the sleeve, substantially as described.

` 3. In an insulator, the combination with a shell having a contracted lower portion, of a sleeve engaging the contracted portion of the IIO , shell, a bell suspended by the sleeve, and a conical bolt also suspended by said con-ical sleeve, substantially as described.

5. In an insulator, the combination with a shell, and a conical sleeve engaging the interior of the shell, ofa bell lsuspended bythe sleeve, a conical bolt engaging the conical sleeve, and devices for exerting downward pressure upon the bolt to hold it rmly in the conical sleeve, substantially as described.

6. In an insulator, the combination with a shell, and a conical bearing therein, of a conical bolt fitting said bearing and supported by the shell, a cap fitting over the upper end of the bolt, a wire 20, and means for clamping the said wire upon the cap and forcing the cap downward upon the upper end of the bolt, substantially as described.

7. In an insulator, the combination with a shell, and a bolt adapted to fit therein,'of a cap adapted to fit over said bolt, a wire 20, land a .screw cap for clamping said wire upon said cap, substantially as described;

8. In an insulator, the combination with a. shell, and a bolt adapted to fit therein, of a cap adapted to t over said bolt, a wire 20,.- and a screw-cap for clamping said wire upon said cap, said screw-cap having an inwardly projecting portion 24, substantially as described.

9. In an insulator, the combination with a shell` and a bolt adapted to tit therein, of a cap adapted to fit over said bolt, a wire 20, a screw-Captor clamping said wire upon said cap, and means for preventing said screw-.cap from accidentally unscrewing, substantially as described.

10. In an insulator, the combination with a shell, and a bolt fitted therein, of a wire 20, and a screwcap mounted-.onth-e shell and exerting pressure on the wire inthe direction toward the bolt'for clamping said wire be'- tween said cap and the bolt, substantially as' described. v

11. In an insulator, the combination with a shell, and a bolt fitted therein, of a wire 20, and a cap above said wire, whereby the wire may be clamped between the cap and the bolt, substantially as described.

I12. The combination with a shell having a contracted lower portion, of a bell formed integral with a sleeve which iits the interior of. the contracted portion ot the shell, substantially as described.

13. An insulator, consisting of a shell open at the top a sleeve engaging the interior of the shell, a bell suspended by the sleeve, a

bolt engaging and supported by the sleeve,

and a cap arranged over the upper end of the bolt, substantially as described.

'14. In an insulator, the combination with a shell, and a bolt suspended therefrom, of a screw-cap fitting the shell, clamp-plates projectng through the shell, and lugs for preventing accidental unscrewin g ofthe cap, substantially as described.

15. In an insulator, the combination with a shell, and a bolt-fitted therein and supported thereby, of wire clamping plates having their extremities projecting through the-shell, one of said plates-'resting upon said bolt, and means for causing ythe clamping plates to clamp or grip the wire, substantially as described.

16. In an insulator, the combination with a shell, and a bolt suspended therefrom, of wire clamping plates having their extremities projecting through said shell, one of said plates resting upon said bolt, and a screw-cap Iitting the shell for causing theclamping plates to clamp or gripl a wire, substantially as described.

17. In an insulator, the combination with a shell, and a bolt suspended therefrom, of a screw cap fitting the shell and having lugs, and a projection extending from they shell and against which one of the lugs is adapted to-be engaged 'for preventing the unscrewing of the cap, substantially as described.

JOHN W.. 'MEAKERL lllitnesses. A. II. ADAMS',`

C. E. PrcKAsD.' 

